For months, the renowned Varieté-Theater in the Heiligkreuzgasse has been closed like so many other cultural institutions. And since the experience of a performance in the Tigerpalast also lives from the narrowness, this will not change anytime soon. Because with the current distance regulation of 1.5 meters, a maximum of 90 guests per performance could be welcomed. That is economically simply not feasible. Tigerpalast co-founder Johnny Klinke is all the happier that he was now able to announce that the Tigerpalast's traditional Christmas programme will also take place in 2020 - just not in the Tigerpalast itself. Instead, there will be a guest performance at the Gesellschaftshaus Palmengarten from November 20 until (at least) January 17, 2021.
For Klinke, this is a big leap forward that will be taken at full risk. With a carefully crafted safety and hygiene concept, for which Benjamin Coppik and his company AES Konzept are responsible, the aim is to gain the confidence of the audience that they can book a ticket for the Christmas show without fear of infection. Coppik, who recently created the security concepts for the Sommerwerft or the digital Festival4Family, ensures with his concept that the necessary distance to the next guest is maintained from every seat. The contactless admission, the routing to the seat and other aspects also ensure that visitors can enjoy the show and the menu in a relaxed manner. The Gesellschaftshaus not only offers sufficient space for this concept, but also for Christmas parties. These will then be able to take place in the Society House's own function rooms, in accordance with all current Corona rules.
Initially, performances will only be offered on weekends (Fri/Sat/Sun). If demand is right, then the plan is to extend the playing times to other days. And if things go really well - which everyone involved hopes they will - then the guest performance could continue after January. Perhaps even until Easter 2021, but that is still a long way off. For now, it's all about the Christmas revue. This will be presented twice on each of the days of the play. The accompanying menu by star chef Coskun Yurdakul will be served in the ballroom before the first show. Before the second show, the menu will be available in the premises of Caféhaus Siesmayer, as well as in the banquet rooms of the Gesellschaftshaus Palmengarten.
On the plate comes a sophisticated appetizer of two-egg Scottish Label Rouge salmon, followed by a Jerusalem artichoke soup with pear chutney and truffle foam. The main course is pink roasted US prime beef with burgundy jus and braised bitoke on paprika confit, before rounding off the menu with choclat framboise with cr<x>ampersand</x>eacute;me Chantilly, spice crumble, marinated pineapple and yoghurt sorbet. Incredibly delicious! However, a vegetarian option can also be booked. At Christmas there is a special menu, as well as for the big New Year's Eve gala, for which the 2* star chef Andreas Krolik will create the gala menu.
But the Tigerpalast is not only known for excellent menus, but primarily for international Varietéart. This has been the case for more than 30 years now, ever since Johnny Klinke, Margareta Dillinger and Matthias Beltz, who died much too early in 2002, brought the tradition of Varieté-theatre, which had actually disappeared from the cityscape, back to Frankfurt in 1988. Even in these very difficult times, Margareta Dillinger has succeeded in bringing first-class artists to Frankfurt, including Alyona Pavlova, who will perform a fascinating aerial ring presentation in the ballroom of the Gesellschaftshaus Palmengarten. But also unique tango acrobatics with the Duo Laos from Argentina, magical moments with the Finn Marko Karvo, ballet acrobatics with the Canadian Valérie Inertie or avant-garde juggling with the Berlin Jochen Schell are guaranteed to thrill and amaze the audience. Of course, the Varieté Palace Orchestra, which provides the musical background of the show, may not be missing.
Johnny Klinke, Margareta Dillinger and Robert Mangold, managing director of the Tiger Palm Group, hope that the audience will trust them and that this guest performance will be a complete success. Because should that not be the case, then that would really endanger the existence of the Tigerpalast institution. And, as Johnny Klinke so aptly put it, "Frankfurt without the Tigerpalast - that's unimaginable!"
Tickets for the Christmas revue can be booked now. Find out more at: https://www.tigerpalast.de/
